Cruise Control
I travel to/from BC and Denver quite often (Sierra, 6.2L) sometimes towing a smallish (under 4000 ibs) trailer and sometimes, not. I travel the major highways and, depending on whether the trailer is ...
Forum Discussion
Thanks all for the replies.
Just to clarify/better explain,
I don't use tow/haul (may use very seldom in certain situations) for a couple reasons - the trailer is fairly light and both the manual and some GMC reps I spoke to state to use tow/haul when the trailer is at or above 75% of the vehicles tow capacity - On most of the route, I can tow at about 62-ish in manual 5th gear (so OD is locked out) at about 2100 rpm. With tow/haul, the rpm's are much higher. Occasionally, when I come up on a bit of an elevated overpass or similar. I will manually accelerate so cruise won't kick in a lower gear (and much higher rpm).
The driving time alone, along the noted route, is about 24 hours. Much of that is reasonably flat (of course with some areas of high hill climbs). So that would be hours and hours of higher rpm's that tow/haul would "inflict".
On most hills, especially the steep ones, I turn off cruise and can pull the trailer in 4th, occasionally 3rd, at around 55-60 (I just gently tap the brakes as approaching to turn CC off, then re-set it once at the crest). Not sure tow/haul would be of any benefit, even under those conditions. Having said that, there are a couple spots where I have used tow/haul, but de-activate it once at the crest.
The 80 mph speeds are only without trailer.
So, to re-ask one of the questions - Is it normal for CC, on a downhill, to allow the speed to exceed the set speed by 8-9 kmh before stepping in and slowing the vehicle down? I think the brake question was answered.
Marv
Just to clarify/better explain,
I don't use tow/haul (may use very seldom in certain situations) for a couple reasons - the trailer is fairly light and both the manual and some GMC reps I spoke to state to use tow/haul when the trailer is at or above 75% of the vehicles tow capacity - On most of the route, I can tow at about 62-ish in manual 5th gear (so OD is locked out) at about 2100 rpm. With tow/haul, the rpm's are much higher. Occasionally, when I come up on a bit of an elevated overpass or similar. I will manually accelerate so cruise won't kick in a lower gear (and much higher rpm).
The driving time alone, along the noted route, is about 24 hours. Much of that is reasonably flat (of course with some areas of high hill climbs). So that would be hours and hours of higher rpm's that tow/haul would "inflict".
On most hills, especially the steep ones, I turn off cruise and can pull the trailer in 4th, occasionally 3rd, at around 55-60 (I just gently tap the brakes as approaching to turn CC off, then re-set it once at the crest). Not sure tow/haul would be of any benefit, even under those conditions. Having said that, there are a couple spots where I have used tow/haul, but de-activate it once at the crest.
The 80 mph speeds are only without trailer.
So, to re-ask one of the questions - Is it normal for CC, on a downhill, to allow the speed to exceed the set speed by 8-9 kmh before stepping in and slowing the vehicle down? I think the brake question was answered.
Marv
